Sand washing and grading apparatus.



W. E. GREGG.

SAND WASHING AND GRADNG APYARATUS.

APPLIGATION FILED Armas. 1912.

,L l Patented may. 3o, 1915.

SAND WASHING am; GRADING Pensamos pecication of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

v Application filed .August 23, 1912` Serial Ho. 716,720.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that l, W'ILLIAM E. Genes, acitizen of the United States of America, residing at Ford City, in thecounty of Armstrong and State of Pennsylvania, have 1nvented cert-ainnew and useful Improvements in Sand lashing .nd Grading Apparatus,

of which the following is a specification, reierence being had thereinto the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to a sand washing and grading apparatusespecially designed for grinding machines used in the production ofplate glass.

VThe primary object of my invention is to provide a washing and gradingdevice for expeditiously and economically washing and parating variousgrades of sand, whereby the diierent grades of sand can be used as anabrasive material for grinding and smoothing glass and other vitreousmaterial.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus of the abovetype wherein positive and reliable means are used, as hereinafter setforth, for automatically grading granular material, whereby a desiredgrade of a material can be easily'obtained for a specific purpose.

A further object of this invention is to provide an apparatus of theabove type wherein the principle of gravity is involved for separatingand positioning granular bodies or particles of various weights, theapparatus being constructed whereby dif` ferent grades can be withdrawnfrom the apparatus as occasion may require.

A still further object of this invention is t0 provide an apparatus ofthe above type i bodiment of the invention, but it is to be understoodthat the structural elements are susceptible to auch chemins as fallwithin the scope of the appended c: pims.

In the drawings:Mlligfurc l is a side elo ration of the zu'iparatuspartly broken amig; and partly in sentido. Fig. 2 is a plan of the.

same, Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view of a clamp valvefor controlling the sand grading current, and Fig. 4 is a` longitudinalsectional view of the saine.

An apparatus in accordance with this invention comprises ya tapering orinverted' conical-shaped container or receptacle l that has the sidewalls thereof stepped to provide a plurality of angularly disposedannular shoulders 2. The large and -open end of the receptacle forms thetop thereof and the lower reduced end of the receptacle is provided withan outlet pipe 2 formed with a T-coupling 3". Arranged above the T-coupling 3b in the outlet pipe 2a is a gate valve 3 and arranged at thelower of the outlet pipe 2a. is a gate Vvalve 3, the latter normallycloses the lower end of the'pipe 2a.

Connected to the lateral leg of the coupling 75 3b is a short pipelength 3c having secured thereto by the clamps 4 a flexible dischargepipe l2 which is used for removing .the coarse sand from the receptaclel for supplying the same to a rotary horizontal table l1 adapted tosupport a sheet of glass to be operated on, or said discharge pipe l2can be utilized to return the coarse sand to y its original source.Preferably the table ll is arranged at the side of the receptacle lArranged upon the discharge pipe l2 is a clamp valve for controlling thedischarge from the receptacle l through said pipe 12, preferably thedischarge -is less than the supply to the receptacle l through themedium of the water and sand supply pipe iai The clamp valve comprises ayoke 13 having a seat 13a for the discharge pipe l2 and further includesa slide 14 provided with an extension lfl which engages the pipe l2 forcontracting' it. The slide llr is shiftahly mounted in the yoke lf3 andis operated through the medium of a screw 15 und u hand wher-ido. Thescrew l5 engages in a threaded plate l5 which is secured to the yoke bythe holdfast devices 15.

lxtending into the receptacle l from the top thereof, as well aslongitudinally thereof and to a point in proximity to the discharge endoi theA receptacle is a water and sand supply pipe 4 which leads from asuitable source of sand and water supply (not shown) and whichconstitutes ,moans for slll'iplyingr smul und u'nlfrr to th) receptaclel, als the sund :url walzcl are sup'uilied to the receptacle l, tlucoarse sandsrttls to the bottom of the receptacle and as the Water im?sand at the, top ot the receptacle;

is supplied simultaneously with the sand, the latter is agitated to thatextent by the water that the sand is graded according to its fineness,that is to say, the very fine particles of sand gradually reach the topof the receptacle with the intermediate grades between the top andbottom of thev receptacle. The sand is suspended by the water as thedischarge through the pipe 12 is less than the intake through the pipe4a,

. it is obvious that the sand will pack and which causes to be formedwhat may be termed a sand grading current, the rapidity thereof beingcontrolled by the clamp valve 15 upon the pipe 12 due to the fact thatthe clamp valve can control the discharge with respect to the intake.

Extending into the receptacle 1 and connected to each annular shoulder 2is an angularly disposed outlet pipe 6 having an elbow-shaped inner endGaand further provided with a cut off 10. The pipes 6 are disposeddownwardly at an inclination and each terminates in a flexible dischargepipe 7.. The pipes 7 are termed down pipes and have their lower endsseated in openings 9 formed with a head 8. The lower ends 7a of thepipes 7 are suitably secured to the head 8.

Connected to the upper end of the receptacle 1, as well as communicatingtherewith, is an overflow pipe 16 which can lead to the water and sandsupply source or to any other desired point.

As above stated the apparatus is prefer# ably located at the side of a.table 1l, the latter being diagrammatically illustrated as aconventional form of table as is used in glass factories for theproduction of plate glass. It isa well known fact that emery and otherabrasive materials are employed for grinding as well as smoothing thesurface ot' a sheet ofglass. ln lieu of employing emery and otherexpensive abrasive material, an apparatus in accordance with thisinvention can be employed whereby different grades of sand can bedeposited upon the surface of a sheet of glass arranged upon the table.By opening Athc valve 3, a very 5 coarse grade ot' sand can be suppliedfor use for the first step of grinding the sheet of glass.. The coarsesand removes large irregularities and as the shcetis gradually ground, afiner and variousrhner grades ot sand can be employed whichicanheobtained by opening the valves 10. As the sheet oli glass nearscompletion. tli'e very fine grades of sand in the upper portion of therecepiacle are used,- and eventually the finer lVhen sand issuppliedthroughany one ol the o\ i pipes' 7, tlieazoarse, sand is conducted thedischarge 'pipe in? 't-i he source of sa'r'ul'-and water supply. .Vhenthe sand'is supplied through any one of the down pipes 7, the valve 3vis not closed, so that the supply of sand and water through the pipe lais continued to form, as before stated the sand grading current are sothat the sand will pack up in receptacle 1 due to the con- 'lo trollingof the apparatus through the medium of the clamp valve.

When the apparatus is not in use the valve 3 is closed, the sand willpack tightly at the bottom of the receptacle l; ifthe valve 3 is 75 openthere would be some diiiiculty as to the discharge of the sand. This isovercome by opening valve 3a and inserting a vsuitable instrumentl upthrough the discharge pipe y 2a and into thev receptacle l to loosenvthe 80 sand so that free discharge can be had.'

After the sand has been loosened to obtain free discharge orsatisfactory working of the apparatus the valve 3@1 is closed and thedischarge from the receptacle :is had through the flexible pipe 12. -Theelbows 6a at the inner ends of the pipe 6 facilitate the dischargethrough-said pipes when the valves 10 are open.

The sand and water pipe 4 is provided 90 with a valve or cut off 4b.

Owing to the construction of the receptacle the up current of the waterwill cause a grading of the sand, or in other words,

the receptacle being small at the bottom, the current of Water is sostrong at this point that nothing but the very coarse sand will settleor stop at this point and as the fol-T lowing Steps gradually increasein size the y same current has to move larger bodies of ,100

water at each step whichtherefore de-v creases theA current at each stepand thereby grades the sand into different grades or at each step thesand is a grade finer. .The vreference to the steps :is the varioussteps of the stepped receptacle.

From the foregoing it will be observed that I have devised a novelapparatus for economically washing and grading various kinds of granularmaterial and although the apparatus is designed primarilyy for use inconnection with the manufacture of plate glass,A yet it is to beunderstood that it can be used for any purpose wherein itis foundapplicable.

lVhat l claim, is l l. An apparatus for the purpose setforth comprisingan inverted cone-shaped stepped receptacle having an outlet medially ofits lower end, a water and material supply pipe extending down into saidreceptacle to `a point in proximity to sai'd outlet for supplying theymaterial thereto, a controllable discharge pipe connecting directly withsaidoutlet and forming in connection With the steps of said receptacle amaterial grading current directed upwardly from the lower end of L'aidsupply pipe for separating the material into dillerent grades, and meansindependent el said'disch'arge pipe for ini isser/2i dependentlydischarging di'erent grades of material.

2. In a grading apparatus, an inverted cone-shaped receptacle steppedthroughout from its lower to its upper end, the steps of said receptacleproviding aV series of divisions forming vcompartments for diiierentgrades of material, the upper divisions being of greater area throughoutthan the lower divisions, each lower division having its upper terminusmerging directly int-o the lower terminus of an upper division, saidlowermost. division having an outlet disposed medially thereof, meansfor simultaneously supplying the material to be separated and water tothe lower portion of said receptacle, and a controllable material outletmeans communicating with said outlet and associated with said supplymeans and vwith ="said receptacle for forming an upwardly directedmaterial grading current.

v3. In a grading apparatus, an inverted cone-shaped receptacle steppedthroughout from its lower to its upper end, the steps of said receptacleproviding a series of divisions forming compartments for differentgrades of material, the upper divisions being of greater area throughoutthan the lower divisions, ,each lower division having its upper terminusmerging directly into the lower terminus of an upper division, saidlowermost division having an voutlet dis-v posed medially thereof, thewalls of each of said divisions being smooth throughout, means forsimultaneously supplying the mjaterial to be separated and water to thelower portion of said receptacle, and a controllable i material outletmeans communicating with said outlet and associated with said supplymeans and with said receptacle for forming an upwardly directed materialgrading current.

4. In a grading apparatus, an inverted cone-shaped receptacle steppedthroughout from its lower to its upper end, the steps of said receptacleproviding a series of divi-A sions forming compartments for dierentgrades of material, the upper divisionsbeing of greater area. throughoutthan the lower divisions, each lower division having f its upperterminus merging directly into the lower terminus of an upper division,said lowerinost division having an outlet dis` posed iiiedially thereof,means for simultaneously supplying the material to be separated andwater to the lower portion" of said receptacle, and a controllablematerial outlet means communicating with said outlet and associated withsaid supply means and with said receptacle for forming an upwardlydirected material grading our rent. l

5. ln grading apparatus, an inverted cone-shaped receptacle steppedthroughout from its lower to its upper end, the steps of said receptacleproviding a series of divisions forming compartments for differentgrades of material, the upper divisions being of greater area throughoutthan the lower divisions, each lower division having its upper terminusmergingdirectly into the lower terminus of an upper division, thelowe'iinost division having an outlet disposed medially thereof, and awater and material supply pipe extending down into said receptacle,medially thereof and to a point in proximity to said outlet.

In a grading apparatus, an inverted cone-shaped receptacle steppedthroughout from its lower to its upper end, the steps of said receptacleproviding a series of divisions forming compartments Afor differentgrades of material, the upper divisions being of greater area throughoutthan the lower divisions, each lower division having .its vupperterminus merging directly into the lower terminus of an upper division,the

lowermost division having an outlet disposed medially thereof, a waterand materialsupply pipe extending down into said receptacle mediallythereof and to a. point in proximity to said outlet for supplyingmaterial to be graded to said receptacle, and a controllable dischargepipe connected directly with said outlet and forming in connection withthe divisionsA of said receptacle a material grading current directedupwardly from the lower end of said supply pipe for sepa-rating thematerial into different grades.

7. In a grading apparatus, an inverted cone-shaped receptacle steppedlthroughout from its lower to its upper end, the steps ofsaid-receptacle providing a series of divisions forming compartments fordifferent grades of material, the upper divisions being of greater areathroughout than the lower divisions; each lower division having itsupper terminus merging directly -into the lower terminus'of an upperdivision, the lowermost division having an outlet dis* posedniediallytheieof, a water and material supply pipe vextending down intosaid receptacle medially thereof'and .to a point in proximity to saidoutlet for supplying materialk to be graded to said receptacle, acontrollable discharge pipe connected directly withsaid outlet andforming in connection ,with the divisions of said receptacle a niaterialgrading current directed upwardly from the lower end of said supply pipefor separating the material into dilferent A grades, and meansindependent of said controllable discharge pipe for independentlydischarging the different grades of material from said divisions.

y 8. In a grading apparatus', an inverted cone-shaped receptacle steppedthroughout from its lower to its upper end, the steps of said receptacleproviding a. series of divisions forming compartments for di tlerentgrades of material., the upper divisions being of greater areathroughout than the lower divisions, each lower division having itsupper terminus merging directly into the lower terminus of an upperdivision. the lowermost division having anoutlet disposed mediallythereof, certain o't the divisions being cylindrical and the otherdivisions' flaring, the cylindrical divisions being alternately disposedwith respect to the Haring divisions, means for conducting a supply o'fmaterial and water into said receptacle to a point in proximity to saidoutlet, anda controllable discharge pipe communicating directly withsaid outlet and forming in connection with said divisionsa materialgrading current for separating the material into different grades. V,

9. In a gradingvapparatus, an inverted cone-shaped i'eccptacle steppedthroughout from its lower to its upper end, the steps of saidlreceptacle providing a series ot divisions forming compartments fordifferent grades of material, the upper divisions being of greater areathroughout than the lower divisions, each lower division having itsupper terminus merging directly into the lower terminus of an upperdivision, the lowermostdivision having an outlet, certain of saiddivisions being cylindrical andthe other divisions flaring, thecylindrical divisions being alternately disposed with respect to theflaring divisions, means for simultaneously supplying the material to beseparated and water to the lower portion of said receptacle, and acontrollable material out-V let means cenimunicating with said outletand associated with said supply means and with said receptacle for'Forming an upwardly directed materialgrading current.

l0. In a grading apparatus, an inverted conical receptacle formed withcylindrical and flaring portions, cylindrical portions merging into thelower ends of the flaring portions, means for supplying the material tobe separated and water to the said receptacle, and means associated withsaid receptacle and with said supply means for forming in connectionwith the supply means and receptacle an upwardly directed materialgrading current traveling at di ll'erent speeds throughout thereceptacle with the speed ot' the current through cach cylindricalportion uniform and with the spoed of the current through cach flaringportion gradually decreasing, the speed ol the current through the lowercylindrical and flaring portions different grades.

12. In a grading apparatus,Y an invertedl material discharge pipeconnected directlyf,

with said outlet pipe and forming in connee-f tion with said receptaclea supply pipe means to provide a continuous material gradingeur-t I'QHdiiected upwardly from the end of said SHPIY Pip@- fOi Separating thematerial in conical receptacle having cylindrical ,and Haring portionsalternately disposed with respect to each other thereby dividing saidireceptacle into divisions, the upper of said cylindrical portions beingof greater diameter than the lower, the upper of said flaring portionsbeing of greaterdiameter than the l lower, means in connection with saidreceptacle for supplying material and water thereto and tor furtherproviding a continuous material grading current directed upwardly' :fromthe lower end of the receptacle `for separating the supplied material indifferent .gra des.

13. ln a grading apparatus, an Ainverted conical receptacle havingcylindrical and, Haring portions, alternately disposed with respect toeach other` thereby dividing said receptacle into divisions, the upperofsaid cylindrical portions being of greater diameter than the lower, theupper of saidflaring portions being ot greater diameter than the lower,means in connection with said recepg tar-.le` for supplying vmaterialand water thereto and for furtherproviding a continuous material gradingcurrent directed upvwardly Ytroni the lower end of the receptacle forseparating the supplied material in dif- 'leront grades. and meansconnected with said receptacle for independently discharging thematerial of different grades; ln testimony whereof I alli); my signaturein the presence of two witnesses.l

' XV] LLIAM l). GREGG.

lVitncf-fsos z (l. A. NoN'rooitenY, llwuw llunci.

